anti-agglutinant
|an-ti-ag-glu-ti-nant|
/ˌænti.əˈɡluːtɪnənt/
prevents clumping
Etymology
'anti-agglutinant' originates from the combining form 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') and 'agglutinant' from New/Neo-Latin scientific formation based on Latin 'agglutinare' (from 'ad-' + 'gluten', where 'gluten' meant 'glue').
'agglutinant' derives from Latin 'agglutinare' ('to glue to'), passed into Medieval/Neo-Latin and later into modern scientific English as 'agglutinant'; the prefix 'anti-' (Greek) was attached in modern scientific coinage to form 'anti-agglutinant'.
Initially related to the idea of 'gluing together' or 'causing adhesion' (from 'gluten' = 'glue'); over time the compound with the prefix 'anti-' came to mean specifically 'against agglutination' or 'preventing clumping' in scientific contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance or agent that prevents agglutination (the clumping together) of particles, cells, or colloidal particles; used especially in immunology, serology, and colloid chemistry to keep components dispersed.
The lab added an anti-agglutinant to the blood sample to prevent red blood cell clumping during analysis.
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Adjective 1
having the property of preventing agglutination; used to describe treatments, agents, or conditions that keep particles or cells from clumping.
They applied an anti-agglutinant procedure to ensure the cells remained evenly suspended during the experiment.
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Last updated: 2025/10/14 13:16